Title:Potential role of Nigella Sativa and its Constituent (Thymoquinone)
in Ischemic Stroke
Volume: 24
Issue: 3
Author(s): Shakiba Azami and Fatemeh Forouzanfar*
Affiliation:
- Neuroscience
Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Neuroscience,
Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Keywords:
Cerebral ischemia, Nigella sativa, thymoquinone, neuroprotection, inflammation, herbal medicine, oxidative stress.
Abstract: Ischemic stroke is one of the major causes of global mortality, which puts
great demands on health systems and social welfare. Ischemic stroke is a complex
pathological process involving a series of mechanisms such as ROS accumulation, Ca2+
overload, inflammation, and apoptosis. The lack of effective and widely applicable
pharmacological treatments for ischemic stroke patients has led scientists to find new
treatments. The use of herbal medicine, as an alternative or complementary therapy, is
increasing worldwide. For centuries, our ancestors had known the remedial nature
of Nigella sativa (Family Ranunculaceae) and used it in various ways, either as medicine
or as food. Nowadays, N. sativa is generally utilized as a therapeutic plant all over the
world. Most of the therapeutic properties of this plant are attributed to the presence of
thymoquinone which is the major biological component of the essential oil. The present
review describes the pharmacotherapeutic potential of N. sativa in ischemic stroke that
has been carried out by various researchers. Existing literature highlights the protective
effects of N. sativa as well as thymoquinone in ischemia stroke via different mechanisms
including anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, neuroprotective, and
vascular protective effects. These properties make N. sativa and thymoquinone
promising candidates for developing potential agents for the prevention and treatment of
ischemic stroke.
